Cops seek driver of `Hometown Hottie' car who refused to stop for police

DOVER — Area police are on the lookout for the driver of a vehicle registered to former Hometown Hottie contestant Persephanie Lesperance of Portsmouth. The driver allegedly refused to stop for police after failing to use their directional signal twice at approximately 9 p.m. Sunday night. When an officer turned on their lights and siren to pull over the SUV registered to Lesperance, the driver did not slow down.

DOVER — Area police are on the lookout for the driver of a vehicle registered to former Hometown Hottie contestant Persephanie Lesperance of Portsmouth.

The driver allegedly refused to stop for police after failing to use their directional signal twice at approximately 9 p.m. Sunday night. When an officer turned on their lights and siren to pull over the SUV registered to Lesperance, the driver did not slow down. Instead, the motorist ran a red light at the intersection of Chestnut and Washington streets to avoid contact with the law.

Officials in Dover would not comment on whether the driver was Lesperance, 24, of 229 Raleigh Way, but they confirmed Monday that the 2002 silver Saturn Vue they were in pursuit of is registered to her.

Portsmouth police were asked to check Lesperance's last known address for her and the vehicle after Dover issued a BOLO (Be On the Look Out) warning. An official at that department said it was believed Lesperance was driving the SUV but they did not come across the vehicle or have contact with the woman.

According to Dover Police Capt. William Breault, the driver failed to use a directional signal when turning from Broadway onto Central Avenue and again when turning from Central Avenue onto Third Street.

“The officer attempted to initiate the traffic stop on Third Street by activating his police vehicle's emergency blue lights. The Saturn continued onto Chestnut Street, at which time the officer also activated the police vehicle's siren. The Saturn continued on Chestnut Street, failing to stop at a red light at the intersection of Chestnut Street and Washington Street,” Breault said.

Lesperance gained local notoriety after being named a semi-finalist in Maxim magazine's 2013 Hometown Hottie contest, in which participants posed seminude. She has been making the news recently for a variety of drug possession charges.

Lesperance was indicted this month for possession of Buprenorphine, an opiate painkiller, and Gabapentin, a drug used to treat epilepsy. Last month she was indicted on a charge of selling heroin to an undercover police officer in August.

Lesperance was arrested in November after an investigation into a heroin distribution ring by Portsmouth police and the state Attorney General's Task Force. Police arrested at least eight people during the sting.

Breault said the investigation remains open and active. There are currently no arrest warrants related to the attempt to stop.